The Big Read Podcast: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

In partnership with Park University and the UMKC Communication Studies Department, the Kansas City Public Library presents an audio recording of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer – an accessible online feature that includes a cast of local luminaries as guest narrators.

The entirety of Mark Twain’s classic novel was released in daily installments. This unique audio recording also features dialogue voiced by Park University theatre students.

Patrick Bennett Kastor (Tom Sawyer) is a junior at Park University majoring in Liberal Studies/Theater. At Park, he has starred as “Ray-Bud” in Dearly Departed as well as “Nils Krogstad” in A Doll’s House. This summer he interned for the Bell Road Barn Players. Currently he is working on two roles in Park University’s production of Almost, Maine. Before attending Park, he played “Morris” in G.K. Chesterton’s Magic and “Cocke” in Gammer Gurtons’s Needle at a Society of Our Lady of most Holy Trinity (SOLT) Liberal Arts institute in Corpus Christi, TX called Our Lady of Corpus Christi.

Mindy M. Reynolds (Aunt Polly, Beck Thatcher) is a junior at Park University pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Communications/Public Relations with a double minor in Spanish and Theater. While at Park, she has acted and stage managed for Dearly Departed and has starred as “Nora” in A Doll’s House. She is currently stage managing and acting in Park’s production of Almost, Maine. She is also a Barber Shop Sweet Adeline gold medalist and a Master level American Clogger. She is thrilled to have finished her first audio book and is looking forward to whatever might come next.

Michael W. Graebner (Huck Finn – Chapters 13 - 35) holds a bachelor’s degree in the critical study of film and television from the University of Southern California Film School. Michael is a professional audio engineer and videographer, who has acted in award winning plays in high school and played various roles in student films and works of his own direction. He currently follows his passion for helping to educate the leaders of the future as the senior audio/visual technician at Park University.

Technical credits for The Big Read Podcast include: Michael Graebner (recording engineer) from Park University; Stephanie Hughes (audio engineer) from UMKC's "New Letters on the Air"; and Paul Smith (producer) from the Kansas City Public Library.